To start my blog, I again quote Pablo Picasso.
“Without great solitude no serious work is possible."
I have recently been struck down with Covid. It is most inconvenient to say the least. I didn’t get terribly sick this time as I have done in the past.
I decided to look for the silver lining. It was obvious to me…. more uninterrupted studio time. I was a bit lethargic but not so tired that I couldn’t paint. I really do cherish my alone time in the studio. It got me thinking about the benefits of working alone as apposed to painting with your art buddies and being involved in the local art scene.
I am in danger of hiding away and becoming an art recluse sometimes, however I am a social soul too, so I find huge value in my painting Fridays once a month with a bunch of likeminded painterly friends. It is always a lot of laughs and usually I take away at least one new gem of information or a new technique. Often also I will have an aha or eureka moment because someone has shown me something I hadn’t thought of or couldn’t grasp before.
A few weeks ago, I took part in a Pop-up Art Sale with those friends and a few others. The benefits that I can see for “getting out there” and being with other artist and showing the public what I do are more than just the obvious which is that you can’t sell paintings if you hide in the studio and no one sees what you have made.
The other benefit is that you become energised by others who are further along their art journey than you and are prepared to help you learn from their experience. On the flip side you can invest in the newbies who might benefit from tips and tricks you have learned.
Art shows take huge amounts of energy in the set up and pack down and interaction with the public, but it is worth it to mark your place in your local community as an artist and be known for your work and perhaps to inspire or bring joy some people with the work that you show.
I think I am quite the same as most artists though in that the solitude of your own surrounding is when the deep work gets done. It allows for a self-paced learning time, deep concentration, less distraction and a chance to get lost in the process.
I was certainly prolific during my self-isolation, and I relished being in my old clothes and comfortable environment with my county music on while I was splashing paint all over the place with joyous abandon.